‘Tell Us Once’ automatically updates government departments

A new service for the bereaved in Highland is launched today by The Highland Council called ‘Tell Us Once’. The service will ensure that when a death is registered in the Highland area, a notification is automatically issued to most government agencies which removes the need for grieving families to notify multiple public bodies. The Registrar will explain this opt-in service when a death is being registered.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of the Council’s People Committee described the service as: “An extremely helpful support arrangement for people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one which is always a stressful time. Tell Us Once will help the bereaved while they are making necessary arrangements, often within limited timescales. The new service is a good example of government departments working together to ease the pressure on individuals.”

Chairman of the Corporate Resources Committee, Councillor Alister MacKinnon praised the scheme and said: “At a very difficult time Tell Us Once will lighten the burden of having to notify various government departments when there are many other arrangements to be made. I am hopeful that Tell Us Once will be used extensively as it will mean that passports, driving licences, housing benefit, blue badges, High Life Highland library and membership cards, and DWP benefits for example will be automatically reviewed without the need for the bereaved to make multiple contacts.”

To make the most effective use of the service, it is important that key documents are made available to the Registrar. Councillor Allan Henderson, Chairman of the Council’s Places Committee added: “I very much welcome this service and encourage people to opt-in to benefit from the scheme. The opt-in process is very quick and easy. Where possible, key documents relating to the deceased person should be provided to the Registrar when registering the death as this will ensure that the various government departments will be notified. This includes details of the deceased person’s driving licence and passport numbers, any benefits that were in payment from the DWP and the Council, their national insurance number, etc. This service should help at a time of personal loss.”